Slot Machine Guide | How to Play and Win

Written by: Aaron Kim, Online Casino Writer & Specialist in Slots
Online Slot machines Icon

Slot machines are the most popular casino games. Everyone stops by them at casinos, hoping to win big. The factor that makes them so appealing is the jackpot prizes they offer. While some scores turn in your bet multiple times, some rare monster strikes can change your life.

Casino sites offer hundreds of titles with various themes and ways to play. Creators and operators tout their games for their features, so this slot machine guide can help beginners understand it all.

Top Casinos to Play Slot Machines

The best casino sites have online slot machines that you can play for real money. They support the most common forms of payment, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Bitcoin. Let’s take a closer look at the top legit gambling sites with the best slots.

RANK ONLINE CASINO BONUS # OF SLOTS RTP START
1 DuckyLuck Casino Logo DuckyLuck Casino BONUS 500% up to $7,500 # OF SLOTS 600 RTP 97.43% Play Now
2 Bovada Casino Logo Bovada Casino BONUS 125% up to $3,750 # OF SLOTS 435 RTP 96.98% Play Now
3 Super Slots Logo Super Slots BONUS 250% up to $6,000 # OF SLOTS 372 RTP 95.32% Play Now
4 Red Dog Casino Logo Red Dog Casino BONUS $8,000 Welcome Bonus # OF SLOTS 701 RTP 96.96% Play Now
5 SlotsandCasino Logo SlotsandCasino BONUS 500% up to $7,500 # OF SLOTS 594 RTP 97.12% Play Now

Best Slot Machine Games

At OUSC, we review the top slot machine games at the best casino sites. We cover everything you need to know, including pay lines, bonus features, themes, and return-to-player (RTP). Only with our exclusive reviews will you be able to watch video tutorials and play the best titles for free. Below you can find a complete review guide of all the titles available.

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    Top 3 Las Vegas Slot Machines

    If you’re planning on traveling to Las Vegas for some gambling fun, check out the following games. These are the best slot machines in Las Vegas that have paid out the most throughout the years.

    1

    Wheel of Fortune

    Wheel of Fortune slot machine

    2

    Double Jackpot

    Double jackpot slot machine

    3

    Megabucks

    Megabucks slot machine

    How to Beat Slot Machines

    Slots are the simplest of casino games to play. You just bet and spin. But learning to play the right way is a matter of money management, discipline, and taking advantage of things that give you the best returns. Here are some slot machine tips to keep in mind:

    1

    Use Bonuses

    bonuses icon

    With bonuses, casinos can start you off with money to spend while finding the right slot game. You can also earn rewards at land-based casinos if you join the casino’s complimentary club. Take these deals when you can.

    2

    Use Free Spins

    free spins icon

    You can pick up these freebies when joining online casinos or with a land-based operation’s loyalty membership. Often part of a bonus, these deals give you a designated number of spins at no cost.

    3

    Use New Slots

    Use new slots Icon

    Don’t play on slots that recently won. A machine that recently hit big won’t pay well again soon. Find one that hasn’t hit big in a while. You may even watch another player play out and give up.

    Slot Machine Odds

    Experienced players look for slot machines with the best odds. Jackpots aside, these games offer the best return in the long run. But, how can I find them? Return-to-player (RTP) and Volatility are essential for determining odds. Let’s take a look at the concepts to calculate better the chances of winning.

    What is RTP and Slot Volatility?

    slot machine odds icon

    The RTP (Return to Player) is the expected payout expressed as a percentage. If a slot machine has an RTP of 97%, you can expect to win back $97 for every $100 wagered. If the RTP is 101%, you can expect to win back $101 for every $100 wage.

    Volatility is how much a game tends to deviate from the RTP. In less volatile titles, you’re more likely to have winning sessions and hit the jackpot more often. Playing games with high volatility, you’ll have more losing sessions but tend to win bigger jackpots when you do win.

    Online Slot Machines with the Best Odds

    RANK GAME RTP CASINO BONUS PLAY FOR REAL MONEY
    1 96% DuckyLuck Casino
    $7,500
    PLAY NOW
    2 96.18% Bovada Casino
    $3,750
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    3 95.50% SlotsandCasino
    $7,500
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    How to Play Slot Machines | Step by Step Guide

    Follow this guide to learn how to play slot machines.

    1. Find a Slot Machine Game

      You might want to take a few spins at several machines before you find one you like. You want to choose a fun slot and a game that offers bet limits to suit your budget.
    2. Get to Know the Rules and Paylines

      You can hit a button that gives you the rules. Some modern machines have touch screens that will take you to the rules page with paytables.
    3. Set up Your Play & Make Your Bet

      Designate your wager amount and the number of paylines you want to employ. Your total bet and payout per spin will depend on how many credits or coins you play per payline. The old machines may take coins, but most newer ones work with bills or tickets you purchase at a window.
    4. Hit the Spin Button

      You can spin one at a time or auto-spin multiple times. Your balance will change with each spin, displaying the win amount in a separate window.

    Slots Machine Guide | How to Play Slots

    If you’re more of a visual learner, you’ll enjoy the following video, in which our team of experts shares a few tips and tricks for playing online slot machines.

    How to Win at a Slot Machine

    Use the guidelines below to find the slot machines with the highest chances of winning. We divide slots into two sections: those with the highest payout percentage and those with the biggest jackpots.

    Bonus and Promotion Banner

    Highest Payout Percentage

    One method is to choose slot machines with the highest payout percentage. But where can I find these slots? As a general rule, Classic 3-Reel games with a fixed jackpot have a higher payout percentage.

    Also, ensure the game has the highest coin denominations you can afford. The bigger the coin denomination, the lower the house edge, and casino owners want to encourage high-stakes players to gamble at their venue.

    slot machine 3 reel slots banner

    Largest Jackpot

    Progressive slot machines are going to be the games with the largest jackpots. A progressive jackpot accumulates over time. Each spin that does not trigger the progressive feeds the pot by a little bit more.

    These games can be any size, but the most famous ones range into the millions (or tens of millions) of dollars. For example, when you hit a MegaBucks slot, it will pay out anywhere between $10 million and $40 million.

    Slot Machine Symbols & Bonus Features

    Understanding slot machine symbols can help you make the best out of your gameplay. The games offer bonus features that give players a sense of accomplishment and the idea that something special is about to happen.

    Below we included the most common symbols so you can start getting familiar with them. Additionally, if you feel some terminology is confusing, check out our slot symbols page.

    slot machines wild symbol
    Wild Symbol
    slot machines scatter symbols
    Scatter Symbol
    slot machines bonus symbol
    Bonus Symbol
    slot machines multiplier symbol
    Multiplier Symbol
    slot machines free spins symbols
    Free Spins Symbol

    Types of Slot Machines

    Below is a description of the types of slot machines you’ll find at the best casinos. One game might be described as two or more of the sub-types listed below. For instance, a video slot might be progressive and interactive as well.

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    Video Slots

    Video slots require a video screen to play the game.

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    3D Animated Slots

    These are video slots that use 3D animations.

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    Skill-Based Slots

    These slots have skill elements that mimic online games.

    progressive slot icon

    Progressive Slots

    The jackpot increases with every spin from a pool of players.

    multiple paylines slot icon

    Multiple Payline Slots

    These slot machines have dozens of paylines you can select.

    reel slots icon

    Reel Slot Machines

    The more traditional slots are the reels. There are usually 3 to 5 reels.

    penny slot machine icon

    Penny Slot Machines

    These are games that accept the smallest bets are penny slots.

    interactive slot icon

    Interactive Slots

    These are games where the player interacts with the game.

    Slot Machine Payouts

    The earliest 3 reel games only had one pay line. However, as slots features evolved, so did the number of paylines, to the point where some games have dozens or even hundreds. Here’s what you can expect with slot machine payouts based on the number of paylines.

    slot machine payline - single payline

    Single Payline Slots

    You must land symbols directly in the center reel to win in single pay line games.

    slot machine payline - 20-30 icons

    20 to 30 Paylines

    Many 5 reel games feature 20, 25, or 30 paylines. This offers more chances to win.

    slot machine payline - 243 ways to win

    243 Ways to Win

    A 243 ways game allows 243 paylines to be created as long as they’re in adjacent reels.

    slot machine payline - 1024 ways to win

    1,024 Ways to Win

    These are the same concept as 243 ways slots, except they create 1,024 ways to win.

    Play Slot Machines And Win Real Money!

    Online Slot Spinning Reels Jackpot Icon

    Slot machines are the most brilliantly designed and fun games at any casino. When you find one that suits your taste and playing style, you’ll have a friend for life.

    The best way to get to know slots is at real money online casinos. Our OUSC recommended casinos are the safest and most reliable in cyberspace. Check them out, join up, and spin to win!

    Slot Machines FAQ

    Here are a few common questions that slot machine players ask.

    How to beat slot machines?

    To beat slot machines, you should follow these tips.

    What are the best slot machines to play?

    The best slot machines to play are the ones with the highest odds and RTP (return to player). These are our recommended slots with the best odds.

    Are slot machines rigged?

    No, slot machines aren’t rigged. Gaming commissions and casino auditors regulate the casinos to make sure that games are fair.

    What slot machines have the best odds?

    The slot machines with lower jackpots have better odds. Progressive jackpot machines are likely to have a high house edge. Classic 3-reels with small fixed maximum wins are likely to have a low house edge.

    What are slot machines?

    Slots machines are the most popular casino game worldwide. When you walk into a casino, you will find two types of machines: Mechanical slots with plastic reels that spin mechanically and simulated slots presented in computer graphics.

    What is a progressive slot machine?

    A progressive slot is a machine that offers a top payout that climbs as more players play the machine. The game adds a portion of each wager to the progressive jackpot, and it keeps rising until a player wins it.

    What are the best casinos to play slot machines?

    You can find the best slot machines at these top-rated online casinos.
    1 – DuckyLuck
    2 – SlotsandCasino
    3 – Bovada
    4 – Ignition
    5 – Lupin

    Aaron Kim

    Aaron Kim Online Casino Writer & Specialist in Slots

    Aaron Kim is a big sports fan and a video game fanatic. He specializes in reviewing online slots and has written for the online gambling industry for more than five years.

    Learn More About Aaron